Three O'Clock High
Directed by Phil Joanou7.160%73%6.8
Nerdy high schooler Jerry Mitchell is assigned to write an article for the school paper about the infamous new delinquent transfer student, Buddy Revell. When Jerry accidentally invades Buddy's personal space and touches him, Buddy challenges Jerry to an afterschool fight in the parking lot, which Jerry tries to avoid at all costs.
Where to Watch Three O'Clock High
Three O'Clock High Ratings & Reviews
- Ecto-1AFebruary 22, 2026🤜🏼 🕒 🤛🏼 High school is hard. 3:00 is harder. By the late 1980s, teen movies were flooding theaters month after month, fueled in large part by filmmakers like John Hughes, Amy Heckerling and Cameron Crowe. The decade became the true launching pad for the modern teen film, and with so many releases crowding the marquee, you were almost guaranteed to miss one. Three O'Clock High was one of those films. Without a high-profile name attached, it largely went unnoticed in theaters and on home video. Over time, however, it quietly gained traction through cable and satellite television. That is where I first discovered it as a kid, only to rediscover it years later as a young adult and appreciate it even more. The casting is thoughtfully handled, the writing and light sharp humor helped keep it grounded and the performances strong from both major and supporting players. The film itself is straightforward and simple, which works entirely in its favor. It delivers exactly what it promises: a tightly constructed, feel-good story that lets you escape the real world. It comfortably sits alongside other overlooked favorites like Better Off Dead. Not every teen film from the ‘80s became a cultural landmark, but some found a second life through loyal audiences who stumbled upon them at just the right time. And, Three O’Clock High is one of those films.
Watch Three O'Clock High Videos
Three O'Clock High Trivia
Three O'Clock High was released on October 9, 1987.
Three O'Clock High was directed by Phil Joanou.
Three O'Clock High has a runtime of 1h 39m.
Three O'Clock High was produced by David E. Vogel.
Nerdy high schooler Jerry Mitchell is assigned to write an article for the school paper about the infamous new delinquent transfer student, Buddy Revell. When Jerry accidentally invades Buddy's personal space and touches him, Buddy challenges Jerry to an afterschool fight in the parking lot, which Jerry tries to avoid at all costs.
The key characters in Three O'Clock High are Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko), Franny Perrins (Annie Ryan), Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson).
Three O'Clock High is rated PG-13.
Three O'Clock High is a Comedy film.
Three O'Clock High has an audience rating of 7.3 out of 10.
Three O'Clock High had a budget of $6M.
Three O'Clock High has made $3.7M at the box office.